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Commercial Building Design Guidelines and Color Palette

Design Guidelines (Summary)

On February 2, 2015, Building Design Guidelines went into effect for existing and new commercial properties and multi-family properties 3-stories or taller along certain designated corridors within the City of Bryan. The guidelines have been developed in the last couple of years with direction from the Bryan City Council and the Planning and Zoning Commission during their annual joint meeting that year. Ordinance No. 2074 was unanimously adopted by the City Council on November 11, 2014.

The design guidelines are intended to help showcase and preserve Bryan’s unique identity, ensure the main entrances and corridors into Bryan are protected, and to increase the quality, adaptability, and sustainability of Bryan’s existing and future building stock. The guidelines are intended to create buildings with an appropriate human scale by encouraging designers to provide exterior architectural design features that are well-proportioned and exhibit the form and function of the building within the design elements. Full Design Guidelines »

Color Palette (Summary)

On February 2, 2015, an Exterior Commercial Color Palette went into effect for all existing and new commercial properties within the City of Bryan. These new regulations of the exterior color of commercial buildings were developed in the last couple of years with direction from the Bryan City Council and the Planning and Zoning Commission during their annual joint meeting that year. Ordinance No. 2073 was unanimously adopted by the City Council on November 11, 2014.

The Exterior Commercial Color Palette is intended to help prevent the use of bright colors on the exterior of commercial buildings that could produce negative impacts on adjacent and nearby properties and/or the overall community appearance. Unlike the new Building Design Guidelines, which are applicable only on properties along certain major corridors, the Exterior Commercial Color Palette, with a few exceptions, applies to ALL non-residential buildings and multi-family residential buildings greater than 3 stories in height on properties in the City. Full Color Palette Information »

Design Guidelines (Full Information)

On February 2, 2015, Building Design Guidelines went into effect for existing and new commercial properties and multi-family properties 3-stories or taller along certain designated corridors within the City of Bryan. The guidelines have been developed in the last couple of years with direction from the Bryan City Council and the Planning and Zoning Commission during their annual joint meeting that year. Ordinance No. 2074 was unanimously adopted by the City Council on November 11, 2014.

The design guidelines are intended to help showcase and preserve Bryan’s unique identity, ensure the main entrances and corridors into Bryan are protected, and to increase the quality, adaptability, and sustainability of Bryan’s existing and future building stock. The guidelines are intended to create buildings with an appropriate human scale by encouraging designers to provide exterior architectural design features that are well-proportioned and exhibit the form and function of the building within the design elements.

The adoption of these guidelines does not mean that the City will require all properties to immediately conform to these new standards. Existing commercial structures along the designated corridors are considered legally- non-conforming (i.e., grandfathered) structures. These structures would only be subject to these new standards under certain circumstances specified in the ordinance, such as expansion or reconstruction of 50% of the existing building floor area.

The Building Design Guidelines employ a point system which utilizes floor area of existing or proposed buildings and other building factors, to determine how many design points a building will have to achieve. Designers may then choose from a menu of design options for earning design points. Alternatives are provided for large single-story buildings and businesses with drive-through facilities.

Procedurally, building design review is an administrative review process that is part of the commercial building site plan review in conjunction with an application for a building permit. Applicants submit building design review worksheets and scoresheets describing the proposed work and how the design points for the project are earned. No additional fees apply for this review process at this time.

This flowchart and list of frequently asked questions are intended to help explain these new standards and review process. If you have any questions regarding the Building Design Guidelines or any other property development-related questions, please contact the Development Services Department at 979-209-5030 or PlanningServicesWeb@bryantx.gov.

Color Palette (Full Information)

On February 2, 2015, an Exterior Commercial Color Palette went into effect for all existing and new commercial properties within the City of Bryan. These new regulations of the exterior color of commercial buildings were developed in the last couple of years with direction from the Bryan City Council and the Planning and Zoning Commission during their annual joint meeting that year. Ordinance no. 2073 was unanimously adopted by the City Council on November 11, 2014.

The Exterior Commercial Color Palette is intended to help prevent the use of bright colors on the exterior of commercial buildings that could produce negative impacts on adjacent and nearby properties and/or the overall community appearance. Unlike the new Building Design Guidelines, which are applicable only on properties along certain major corridors, the Exterior Commercial Color Palette, with a few exceptions, applies to ALL non-residential buildings and multi-family residential buildings greater than 3 stories in height on properties in the City.

The Exterior Commercial Color Palette utilizes the standard colors from the Sherwin Williams color palette, or their match in other paint company palettes. It is important to know that no colors are prohibited to be painted on the exterior of commercial buildings colors. However, certain colors, referred to as “limited colors” may only be used on 5-15 percent of the building façade, depending on the building size.

Procedurally, Exterior Commercial Color Palette review is an administrative review process that is part of the commercial building site plan review process in conjunction with an application for a building permit. Applicants submit this worksheet with their building permit application, providing specific information on exterior paint colors that are proposed to be used for a commercial building project. No additional fees apply for this review process at this time.

Existing commercial building may continue to utilize existing colors that are on the building that are considered “limited” and may maintain these colors until there is a change in color or a physical change to the architecture of the building is made. At that time, all colors used on the building must come into compliance with the Exterior Commercial Color Palette ordinance. Customers wishing to maintain their current colors do not need to obtain permission from the City to perform color maintenance. However, if a customer wishes to change the color of their commercial building, they should contact the Development Services Department before commencing with any painting activity to ensure that they area in compliance with the ordinance.

This flowchart and list of frequently asked questions are intended to help explain these new commercial paint color standards and review process. If you have any questions regarding the Exterior Commercial Color Palette or any other property development-related questions, please contact the Development Services Department at 979-209-5030 or PlanningServicesWeb@bryantx.gov.

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Tax Rate Notice

The City of Bryan adopted a tax rate that will raise more taxes for maintenance and operations than last year’s tax rate. The tax rate will effectively be raised by 5.84 percent and will raise taxes for maintenance and operation on a $100,000 home by approximately $34.77